I try to do it every year. I learned it 20-odd years ago when I was dating the daughter of a Rabbi and thought it made eminent sense (of course, as a Jew, I think much of Judaism makes eminent sense).
In any case, whether Jew or not, it’s a no-loose ritual that can be done by anyone, and done at a time of the year before something new, like, say New Year’s Eve. I think even divorced from its religious bearings, it is a particularly wonderful custom and shows the person who is apologizing to be one who cares about those he apologizes to. And don’t think that, “but there’s nothing for me to apologize about.” as there are always little slights which may or not be remembered for which you should apologize. And even even if you acted with the delicacy of a saint, it is still an important and meaningful gesture. And if that isn’t obvious to you, see how (good) you feel if/when a friend asks you for forgiveness for “anything [he/she] may have done over the past year which may have hurt you — and for you to please tell [the friend] any specifics so that [he/she] can make a fuller apology.” Even if you can remember nothing (no sin, no action, nothing which hurt you or angered you in any way), the very fact that your friend is asking this of you, laying his defenses aside, will produce a warm glow in an of itself.
